NEWARK, SEPT. 25, 2013– Continuing Governor Christie’s commitment to the Employment First initiative for hiring people with disabilities, the state Department of Labor and Workforce Development (LWD) hosted a summit today to educate financial and banking institutions on the support and incentives available to expand their workforces with qualified employees with disabilities.

The department’s Division of Vocational Rehabilitation Services (DVRS) and New Jersey’s Financial Services Talent Network partnered to provide tangible hiring options to a group of 20 financial services companies interested in hiring workers with disabilities. The companies were informed about tax incentive programs, the benefits of on-the-job training, the requirements the Americans with Disabilities Act places on companies dealing with federal funds, and the free work site consultations and technical assistance available to employers interested in bringing on people with disabilities.

“Our One-Stop Career Centers play an important role in connecting individuals with disabilities with employers looking to hire qualified talent,” said Labor Commissioner Harold J. Wirths. “One-Stops are the local avenues that deliver and coordinate employment services for all job-seekers. This summit is a wonderful opportunity for employers to understand how to connect with qualified job seekers with disabilities.”

The New Jersey DVRS is one of 10 state vocational rehabilitation agencies awarded a Rehabilitation Technical Assistance Center grant from the Institute for Community Inclusion at Boston University. The funding was part of a larger federal grant released by the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research, a component of the U.S. Department of Education.

The overall focus of the grant, which helped to finance the summit, is to increase employment outcomes for individuals with disabilities by specific industries.

“DVRS is a key part of New Jersey’s workforce system, and our staff has the knowledge and the expertise to support job-seekers with disabilities so they can be successful in competitive employment. That is why our counselors are able to prescreen and assess job-seekers to develop strategies and provide resources for training candidates in jobs with the financial services industries,” said DVRS Director Alice Hunnicutt.

The Financial Services Talent Networks is one of seven organizations the Department of Labor built around seven major industry clusters to allow employers identify for training providers, education officials, workforce development agencies and public officials the exact skills they need to find in prospective employees.

The businesses that sent representatives to the Newark summit were from New Jersey’s financial services sectors in Bergen, Hudson, and Essex counties.

In April 2012, Governor Chris Christie declared New Jersey an “Employment First” state, a designation that means competitive employment is the first and preferred post-education activity for everyone, including people with disabilities. The initiative committed New Jersey to working cooperatively with the private sector to ensure that people with disabilities are an active part of New Jersey’s workforce.

The New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development is an equal employment opportunity employer and provides equal opportunity programs.
Auxiliary aids and services are available upon request to assist individuals with disabilities.